Man Indicted In Death Of Woman During High Speed Police Chase In Mercer County

A Jackson man has been indicted for aggravated manslaughter in the death of a 22-year-old woman he is alleged to have struck and killed during a high-speed police chase in September, Mercer County Prosecutor Angelo J. Onofri said on Tuesday.

Chandler Heaviside, 23, was indicted on charges of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, second-degree eluding, first-degree death by auto within 1,000 feet of a school zone, second-degree death by auto, third-degree unlicensed driver causing death to another, second-degree leaving the scene of a motor vehicle accident resulting in death, two counts of fourth-degree assault by auto, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute, second-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 500 feet of a public park, third-degree possession of a controlled dangerous substance with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, fourth-degree tampering, fourth-degree resisting arrest by flight and third-degree aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer. He remains in the Mercer County Correction Center.

The chase resulted in the death of 22-year-old Deja Farrior, of Trenton. It began when the New Jersey State Police Crime Suppression Unit attempted to stop a gray Chevy Trailblazer after seeing a drug deal while conducting an investigation in Trenton around 10 p.m., police said.

The vehicle fled the scene and police gave chase, with their emergency lights and siren on. Police say they chased the vehicle until they reached the area of the Whitehorse Circle in Hamilton Township. At that point, police say they backed off, but the Chevy continued north on Broad Street.

The Chevy then ran a red light at the intersection of Broad Street and Park Avenue, hitting the passenger side of a Honda Civic that was attempting to turn left on Park Avenue, police said. The Civic struck a telephone pole. Farrior was extricated from the Civic and taken to Capital Health Regional Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.

At the time of the accident, Heaviside got out of the Chevy and fled on foot, police said. He was eventually captured by State Police, with the help of the Trenton Police Street Crimes Unit.

At the time he was captured, police say they found him in possession of heroin. Police said he was driving while under the influence of narcotics.

The charges are a result of an investigation by Detective Tony Abarno of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Serious Collision Response Team, the Hamilton Township Police Division Traffic Unit, and the New Jersey State Police.

The attached image of Chandler Heaviside was provided by the Mercer County Prosecutor's Office